Jeremy Paul Set To Quit Australia

Wallaby hooker Jeremy Paul is contemplating quitting Australian rugby at the end of the year to chase a lucrative playing deal in Europe.

Wallaby hooker Jeremy Paul is contemplatingquitting Australian rugby at the end of the year to chase a lucrative playing deal in Europe.

The wife of the 27-year-old ACT Brumbies' hooker has an Englishpassport making Paul, who has played 44 Tests, an even more attractiveprospect for rich English clubs because he won't be included in their import quota.

Saracens, where his former ACT teammate and close friend Rod Kaferis coach, is a strong option.

Wallaby coach Eddie Jones said Paul, rated one of the most giftedhookers in world rugby despite being number two behind Brendan Cannon in thenational team, remained important to Australian rugby. "If he doesn't want to play in Australia then that's adecision he makes. I know he's been offered a very good contract that would keep him inAustralia," Jones said on Tuesday.

"We want him to stay in Australia, we'd like him to, butultimately he's got to do what he feels is right for his career."

Paul said he planned to make a decision on his playing future inthe next month. "I just have to weigh up where I'm at in my career and I'vebeen doing that for the last four to six weeks," Paul said.

"Once I got married at the end of last year, my personalambition as a rugby player definitely changed, you're not playing for yourselfanymore, you're looking after your family."

He said the attraction of playing in Europe was the ability forthe couple to travel and "have some fun".

His ACT teammates and fellow Wallabies Joe Roff and David Giffinhave already announced Saturday's Super 12 final against the Crusaderswill be

their last for the Brumbies and Paul admitted it would be a good wayto bow out. "I suppose a lot of people have been saying it's a good wayto finish ... to finish on a high with the guys we've been playing with would begreat," he said.

Former Test prop Andrew Blades has been appointed Wallabies' new forwards coach, national coach Jones announced today.

Jones said Blades had the background and skills to step up as anassistant coach after previous coaching spells with Australia's under-21 team,the ACT Brumbies and Newcastle Falcons in England.

Blades has replaced Ewen McKenzie, who left the Wallabies afterlast year's World Cup to become head coach at the NSW Waratahs. "We're very lucky to have Bladesy, he was obviously a verygood player for the Wallabies, did some coaching with the Brumbies and had two yearsas a professional coach in Newcastle," Jones told reporters.

"So he brings a lot of expertise to the coaching team and theteam in general."

Jones said a decision on the backs coach of the national team willbe made in the next few weeks.

Narbonne's Argentineinternational back rower Gonzalo Longo and hooker Brice Miguel have signed for twoseasons with top flight French rugby union outfit Montferrand.

The contract for 28-year-old Longo can be extended for a furtheryear.

New Zealand-born French international centre Tony Marsh will staywith Montferrand for a third season, with negotiations ongoing for afurther extension until 2006, the club added.

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